the threat of default or downgrade. >> ron insana there. meanwhile, u.s. troopsinafghanistanareworried they may not get paid because of this debt showdown in washington. gener good saturday morning to you, atia. so what was this meeting with the troops like? >> reporter: good morning, alex. the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, admiral mullen, made his way down to the southern part of afghanistan, the most volatile part in the country. his number one question from the soldiers, airmen, sailors and marines wasn't necessarily about the military strategy but it was, will we get paid. and his response was, i actually don't know the answer to that question. i have confidence that at some point in time whatever compensation you are owed you will be given. obviously the americans here in afghanistan, very worried about what's going on in washington. many of these men and women haven't seen their families for several months. many won't see them for a full year and they're wondering if those family members are going to be getting those paychecks. they're risking their lives here in afghani

by u.s. officialsinafghanistanhewas allowed close enough to kill seven cia agents? >>> finally, let me finish with a second look at most memorable moment of the week when rupert murdoch's wife wendi supposedly saved him from a pie throwing comedian. call me skeptical but i'm calling it piegate. >>> we start with deal or no deal. the "new york times" reported this afternoon, the obama administration has informed democratic congressional leaders that president obama and speaker boehner were about to close in on a major deal that would enact substantial spending cuts and seek future revenues through -- the administration on wednesday night notified top members of congress that an agreemd between the president and mr. boehner could be imminent. but white house spokesman jay carney was quick to knock down the story. let's listen. >> the breaking news reports you all have probably received is incorrect. there is no deal. we are not close to a deal. we are obviously -- the president is in discussions with all the leaders of congress, as well as other members, and exploring the possibility

together and serve togetherinafghanistanisactually a better situation than if one of you had stayed back because you would live difficult lives and separate lives? >> i didn't hear the question. >> so what i'm asking, sergeant -- >> i'm sorry, what was the question? >> no problem. i know there's a delay here. the fact that you guys get to work together and spend time together, it sounds like it's working out quite well compared to many of those who serve with you where one of them is in the united states. >> yes, it's great having him out here. i know most of us -- well, almost everybody has to leave their loved ones behind, but it's great to see him every day here and be able to talk to him as much as we do. >> sergeant and corporal, thank you very much for what you do there. thank you for your time today and sharing with us how you've made it work serving together there in afghanistan, which is so important to all of us here in the united states. thank you again for your time. >>> and yet another twitter milestone for justin bieber and his tweet of the day. bieber saying 10,000 tw

here. >> thank you. >>> up next, how can an al qaeda terroristinafghanistan, atriple agent, if you will, manage to infiltrate the cia and kill seven operatives? we're going to talk to the author of a hit new book that takes us inside the 2009 attack. that's next, and this is "hardball" only on msnbc. >>> the u.s. government's remaining shares in the company meaning the government's $12.5 billion bailout ended up costing taxpayers $1.3 billion. >>> we'll be right back. 8gg@ú >>> welcome back to "hardball." it's been more than two months since u.s. special forces shot and killed osama bin laden. in the wake of that success, it's easy to forget the long, hard road to get there. back in debt of 2009, the cia thought he had the ultimate double agent who would lead them to the top echelon of al qaeda but turn out to be a triple agent, buried so deeply into the cia when he detonated the bomb he was wearing he killed seven cia agents as well as himself. "washington post" national correspondent jody warrick writes an that and how the cia was duped in his new book calmed "the triple threat:

of president obama when it's clear that the wars in iraqandafghanistanaddedto the nation's debt? >> it did. he's the commander in chief he could have removed our troops at any point in time. let's taung about barack obama's position in washington, d.c. during the six years he's been in washington our accumulated national debt has increased by more than 50 percent. what is president obama's response been now and as a senator to increase spending even more, not to cut it. but to increase spending even more. two years as a freshman senator, the debt goes up $400 billion because of deficits. two years when he's in the majority of the united states senate, it goes up $1.8 trillion. now it's up $2.8 trillion while he's president. >> you're simplifying the issues on the plate of the nation at that point. we were looking at going -- reverting into a depression at that point. everyone the fed chairman -- >> i disagree. >> do you have a degree in economics? >> yes, ma'am, i do. highest honors. >> okay. so you disagree with the fed chairman, ben bernanke. you disagreed at the time paul vol ker and ot